Spanish has many verbs with only one past participle:
For example, the verb
In this article, we will look at the most important Spanish verbs with double participles, how they are used, and which forms are more common in everyday Spanish.
What are Spanish Verbs with Double Participles?
Spanish verbs with double participles are verbs that have two accepted participle forms. One form is usually regular, and the other is irregular.
freír (to fry) →freído /frito imprimir (to print) →imprimido /impreso proveer (to provide, to supply) →proveído /provisto prender (to catch, to capture) →prendido /preso suspender (to fail) →suspendido /suspenso soltar (to let down, to let go) →soltado /suelto
The regular participle is usually formed in the normal way (-
How are double participles used?
In general, Spanish participles have two main uses. They can be used with
When a participle is used with
He freído las patatas durante varios minutos porque quería que quedaran crujientes por fuera.
I have fried the potatoes for several minutes because I wanted them to be crispy on the outside.
When a participle is used as an adjective, it usually agrees with the noun in gender and number.
Las patatas fritas estaban tan calientes que tuvimos que esperar antes de empezar a comer.
The fried potatoes were so hot that we had to wait before starting to eat.
This difference is very important when learning Spanish verbs with double participles. In many cases, the regular participle is more common with
Freído and frito
The verb
As an adjective,
El pollo frito que prepararon en aquel restaurante era crujiente, jugoso y bastante picante.
The fried chicken they prepared at that restaurant was crispy, juicy, and quite spicy.
Imprimido and impreso
The verb
Ya he imprimido todos los documentos que necesitamos para la reunión de esta tarde.
Ya he impreso todos los documentos que necesitamos para la reunión de esta tarde.
I have already printed all the documents we need for this afternoon’s meeting.
As an adjective,
El contrato impreso estaba sobre la mesa, pero nadie lo había firmado todavía.
The printed contract was on the table, but nobody had signed it yet.
This is one of the most useful Spanish verbs with double participles because imprimir is common in work, school, and administrative contexts.
Proveído and provisto
The verb
La organización ha proveído de agua potable a todas las comunidades afectadas por la tormenta.
La organización ha provisto de agua potable a todas las comunidades afectadas por la tormenta.
The organization has provided drinking water to all the communities affected by the storm.
As an adjective,
El apartamento está provisto de calefacción, conexión a internet y una pequeña terraza privada.
The apartment is equipped with heating, internet connection, and a small private terrace.
Prendido and preso
The verb
El niño había prendido una pequeña linterna porque tenía miedo de caminar por el pasillo oscuro.
The child had turned on a small flashlight because he was afraid to walk down the dark hallway.
This example shows why Spanish verbs with double participles can be tricky. The two forms may have different meanings or be used in different contexts.
El ladrón fue preso después de intentar escapar por una calle llena de policías.
The thief was arrested after trying to escape through a street full of police officers.
Suspendido and suspenso
The verb
La universidad ha suspendido las clases porque la tormenta hizo imposible llegar al campus.
The university has canceled classes because the storm made it impossible to reach the campus.
El estudiante estaba suspenso en matemáticas porque no había aprobado ninguno de los exámenes principales.
The student had failed mathematics because he had not passed any of the main exams.
La decisión quedó en suspenso hasta que todos los miembros del comité revisaran los documentos.
The decision remained pending until all the committee members reviewed the documents.
Soltado and suelto
The verb
El entrenador había soltado al perro en el parque para que pudiera correr libremente.
The trainer had released the dog in the park so that it could run freely.
El perro suelto cruzó la calle rápidamente mientras los vecinos intentaban llamarlo con calma.
The loose dog crossed the street quickly while the neighbors tried to call it calmly.
Exercises
When studying Spanish verbs with double participles, it is useful to remember this practical rule: the regular participle often appears with
For example,
So, instead of memorizing only lists, try to learn Spanish verbs with double participles in full expressions. This will help you use Spanish verbs with double participles more naturally and avoid forms that may sound unusual in everyday speech.
Now let’s do some exercises to practice some of these Spanish verbs with double participles.